Armenian Navy Band - New Apricot (2001)

One of the best and most innovative bands to emerge on the international scene in the last decade, in 2006 the Armenian Navy Band (led by the sublime taste and compositive skill of percussionist Arto Tunçboyaciyan) has won the BBC Radio 3’s prestigious World Music Audience Award. That is to say that people across the world voted them the best world music ensemble on the planet. For all those of you who still don’t know this amazing band, here’s a chance to discover why. Enjoy!

«Armenia is a nation that invokes many descriptions: landlocked, ancient, nestled in the foothills of the Caucasus mountains and bearer of many tragic events. Yet Armenia is also celebrated for its music, especially the duduk, a flute carved from apricot wood with a cane reed whose range is barely one octave. When played by a master such as Djivan Gasparyan the duduk creates one of the loneliest, most moving sounds ever heard. Yet Armenia is not land locked in the past; instead, it has maintained a connection with Western thought and culture – this has been helped by a huge Armenian diaspora, many of whom live in the USA – and The Armenian Navy Band are the most brilliant example yet of how an ancient culture can comfortably blend with a contemporary one.
The Armenian Navy Band was founded by the percussionist/vocalist of Armenian descent, Arto Tunçboyaciyan. Arto likes to describe The Armenian Navy Band as “avant garde music from Armenia” which suggests something of the band but is a little limiting. The band have a strong jazz influence and to this they bring in all manner of folkloric instrumentation so building an organic creation that, well, swings.
Along with others of the Armenian diaspora, Arto Tuncboyaciyan grew up on the outskirts of Istanbul. Arto turned to music to celebrate his culture and here he managed to keep alive the spirit of Armenia. The sorrow and loneliness, also to be found in African-American jazz and blues, are mixed here with the melancholy Armenian spirit. Yet there is also joy, love and solace. The Navy Band is composed of twelve Armenian musicians and the compositions are all Arto originals which – using his words – “have the sound of my life”. The instruments vary from traditional: duduk, zurna, kemanche, kanun to contemporary: trombone, alto sax, tenor, soprano sax, trumpet, bass, drums, keyboard and piano. The Armenian Navy Band have released 3 CDs: 1999’s Bzdik Zinvor, 2001’s New Apricot and 2004’s Natural Seed.» (Garth Cartwright, BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards)

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